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I'm off on Tuesday 22nd, I'm hoping this day should be quiet - I don't think the schools are on half term at that point?

I'm there as well then... I would like to think it would be pretty quiet, although doubt it would be quiet otherwise they wouldn't put the event on for that week, and then to reverse the decision to close at 7 instead of 9 as so many people complained - so I'm not getting my hopes up, but as far as I am aware majority of schools are on half term the week after, so should at least be the quieter of the two weeks!

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Hopefully 2014 will see a brand new map, it's normally every 3 years, this instalment may well be moderately beautiful in its normal guise, but I have had one too many headaches and this new one just looks ill!

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Anyone done the zombie scare zone before????? Any good?? In terms of scare zones it will be hard for it to live up to blair witch; should still be worth a try though The maps not too bad!! At least it'll show up well at night

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Which are the free and which are the paid for Scarefest attractions?Oh and the busiest ones? I need tips and tactics since I'm going on Sunday 3rd Nov!

zombie scare zone, and carnival of screams are free this year... zombies barely had a queue at any time last year as it is a scarezone which you walk through freely and has a large throughput of people.

can't comment on the others, as carnival of screams was paid last year, and terror of the towers was the free one... but is paid for, along with the sanctuary (again)

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Scarefest Construction 13 October 2013. Sorry for the poorer than usual quality of photos. The weather was atrocious.

Firstly, HQ seems to have been halloweened.

There are a host of new flags flying over the entrance, all scarefesty in their splendour.

Once in the park, each of the grassy areas has had wooden posts erected.

On the ground in a number of places is SC. Obviously some Stoke fan hooligans have been in the park. I think that this area is going to get set up in the next day or so.

Odly some of the lights on Towers Street have had all except one of their bally things removed.

One of the froggies seems to be vomiting blood. There has been a red light placed under him that lights up the water as it jets out of his mouth. By the end of the day, as dusk descended it started looking quite cool.

Carnival entrance now set up and looking as disturbing as usual. I do love this entrance.

The fencing around it state this.

Sneaking a naughty peak over the fence you see

The back side of the frontage looks like

The golfing side of the maze now looks like this.

The other side, behind the plate smash is much more interesting though. An old banner is being used as the roof.I wonder if this ties into the story or is simply a blue peter special.

Looking through that gateway (which was open) you can see. Hmm where did that shipping container come from. Well it wouldn't be Merlin without one.

What's going on in Zombie? I hear you ask

and if you look towards the right you see

The other end has quite an interesting grey tent built.

which, oddly, seemed quite long.

and to the right of the gate, Christmas is still here and in the distance you can see, so is the bus.

Elsewhere - Fountain square now has this fine erection.

TOTT & Sanctuary now has lighting

Nemesis's bus seems to have re-developed wind.

Sub Terra now has lighting in the queue line

Log flumes lights have been fixed and are now on.

OOOO we have coloured lighting

And the path to the car park has also gained lights.

Finally, the hated ones are congregating in the overflow bus park, plotting their destruction of all mood though-out the park.

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floodlights ruined it for me last year (having been the only time I'd ever been scarefest)... I really love the lost city area at thorpe park with the green lighting - and even better again, just everything about chessington, barely seen a single normal coloured floodlight!

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I think it comes from the system being a bit hotchpotch, things have grown without real planning and the supply just can't cope sometimes. I think it is a limiting and budget sapping factor for new builds there, with everything needing a little substation at quite a cost.

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I think Scarefest was a highlight of the year for me... it was incredible! I can't put into words why, maybe because it was my first Alton Towers trip in the dark, maybe because of Scarefest but something about the atmosphere, mazes, lighting... Just felt so amazing.

All three mazes scared the living daylights out of me, some scenes was just so intense I didn't know what was real anymore, and The Smiler in the dark front row!

I'll explain more detail in a trip report Wednesday, but just wow, if you've never been Scarefest before, I suggest you go, ASAP.